SPA REVIEWS: New Jersey's Copper River Salon & Spa

Crowd-Pleasing Service

All strategies seem to be working; Copper River has consistently grown each month since opening its doors, no small feat in the current economic climate. “Beauty usually hovers near the top of the priority list for many,” says Weigand. “So we try to offer beauty maintenance, along with occasional luxuries.” In addition to a full gamut of hair services (ranging from $40 blowouts to $500 Crystal straightening treatments, and cuts costing $60 to $80), Copper Rivers’ bestselling spa services include The Classic Copper River Facial (50 min./ $125)—which includes a custom skin analysis, mushroom peel, collagen serum and seaweed mask—and Hot Stone Massage Therapy (75 min./ $125). “We’re the only local spa that offers that type of massage,” says Weigand, “and our clients are quickly realizing hot stone is the way to go!”

Weigand is continually striving to build her business into not just a salon and spa, but also a day-long destination. She offers extensive services for bridal parties (the Copper River website even provides a handy checklist to help brides and their maids time each pre-wedding-day treatment). And on the last Friday of every month, Copper River hosts a two-hour Blow Dry Like A Pro event ($25 per person), at which stylists show women how to blow out their own hair. The spa provides drinks, snacks and music, and has found the shindig to be a hit with groups of girlfriends preparing for nights on the town.

Looking to the future, Cooper River plans to add eyelash tinting and extensions, as well medical procedures such as Botox. They would also like to branch out and create additional signature massage treatments.
Right now, however, Barbara Weigand is content to be living out her dream. “My goal was always to create a salon/spa with eco-responsibility in its DNA,” she says. “We take great pride in embracing as many green practices and earth-friendly choices as possible. We really want to be thought of first when people think about recycling and beauty!”